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Legislation
requiring Web site, Internet and e-mail registration for sex offenders
passes House
Common-sense measure would protect children from
online predators
A bill to update sex
offender registration requirements passed the House unanimously today.
House Bill 2444 is sponsored by Rep. Kirk
Pearson, R-Monroe.
House Bill 2444 would
require convicted sex offenders and kidnappers to disclose to
authorities their e-mail and Internet Web sites they operate or create. Convicted sex offenders
are already required to register their physical residence as well as
other identifying information and any aliases.
"This is a common-sense approach to public safety laws," Pearson said. "Many
kids these days are on the Internet in chat rooms, where we know some
child predators look for kids to groom and lure. It's clear the Internet is an area where kids are vulnerable, so taking this step to
better protect families and catch the bad guys is just the right thing
to do."
Pearson added that as
technology becomes more sophisticated, laws must be updated to reflect
the new tricks criminals use to break the law and harm people.
Pearson also sponsored
two other public-safety measures - House Bills 2443 and 2445. House Bill 2443 would authorize
Community Corrections Officers to perform unannounced inspections of the
most dangerous Level 3 sex offenders, and sex offenders convicted of sex
crimes against a minor and those who have a prior convictions for
failing to register. House Bill 2445 would require all sex offenders to
submit a biological, or DNA, sample for inclusion in a DNA-identification database.
House Bill 2444 now goes
to the Senate for further consideration.
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For more information, contact:
Bobbi Cussins, Public Information Officer:
(360) 786-7252
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